Golfer&#39;s head movement indicating device



June 20,1967 F. EATON. JR 3,326,558

GOL'FER'S HEAD MOVEMENT INDICATING DEVICE Filed April I, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l G-J 57' 3G '66 7 c-J 44 5-4 22 Q I 20 3a 3a T M INVENTOR. 19419010 f. [ATOMJP F1 9. .37

- ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,326,558 GOLFERS HEAD MOVEMENT INDICATING DEVICE Harold F. Eaton, Jr., Tarrytown, N.Y., assignor to How- To Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 357,175 Claims. (Cl. 273-183) This invention relates to golf practice and instruction apparatus and particularly to improved golf instruction and practice apparatus adapted to improve a players head immobility during a golf swing.

The importance of minimizing the degree of, if not actually avoiding, movement of ones head during the execution of a golf swing is well understood and accepted by professional golfers. In fact, it is recognized that consistently good golf shots cannot be executed unless a high degree of head immobility is achieved. Such a high degree of desired head immobility requires conscious and deliberate muscular control and the consistent attaining of such desired high degree of head immobility takes prolonged elfort and concentration on the part of a golfer.

In view of the importance of desired head immobility many attempts have been made to provide golf instruction and practice apparatus which will aid in effecting this end or will aid a golfer in concentrating to achieve this end. Many varied apparatus have been developed for either coercively holding or guiding the players head and/or body members during a swing. Such apparatus has been largely impractical in that they interfered with or impeded the swing itself or tried to mold a swing to a predetermined pattern which was not suited to the physical attributes of the user and moreover broke the required concentrationby the user. Even if not subject to the above, prior devices werealmost universally impractical or inetfectual in that they provided a crutch which, when withdrawn in actual play, left the player without the sense of guidance to which he hadthen become accustomed. Still other apparatus has been developed which, while departing from coercive guidance, nevertheless required some form of contact with the person of the player and necessarily produced a distractive influence to the senses of feel or sight or both and thereby derogated from the concentration required for necessary head immobility.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved golf practice andinstructional apparatus to aid in the minimization, if not avoidance, of undesirable head displacement during a golf swing and to do so without introducing body contact or other concentration distrac v tive influences of either a visual or sensing nature.

Another object is to provide a practice and instructional device which is effective and reliable in developing a desirable degree of head immobility' during a golf swing which is essential for consistent execution of good golf shots and concomitant reduction in score. 7 g

A further object is to provide a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object is to .provide a device which is portable and readily foldable to compact minimum space requirements for transportation or storage.

A further object is to provide a device which is readily adjustable to player height or stance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is an oblique view of apparatus incorporating the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of FIGURE 1 schematically showing the adjustability of spaced depending members which define an area of permissible head displacement;

FIGURE 4a is an enlarged oblique view of a portion of the structure of FIGURE 4 showing the tilt arm and the manner of lateral adjustment of the members depending therefrom;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, showing details of a preferred form of the signal actuating means; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrative of the esssentials of a modified structure incorporating. the principles of this invention. I

By way of general introduction, the apparatus hereinafter described broadly includes a pair of depending means disposed in a'djustably spaced relation and adapted to define therebetween a selective area of permissible head displacement, an adjustably positionable overhead support means for the depending means and signal producing means responsive to displacement of the depend ing means.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown, in erected operational position, a

preferred embodiment of a golf instruction and practice apparatus incorporating the principles of my invention. As illustrated, there is provided spaced depending means 2 and 4 which define therebetween a permissive area of head displacement. The depending means 2 and 4 may be of any suitable form or construction such as metal or plastic strips or Wires which, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 4a of the drawings, nay be detachably adjustable in spacing along the length of a horizontally positioned car rier arm member such as a tilt arm 6. Tilt arm 6, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, is pivotally mounted at its mid-point to a rigid vertically positioned support arm 8 which forms part of the overhead support means to be described hereinafter, and is of a light weight and readily displaceable nature.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, the overhead sup port means may suitably constitute a frame assembly including a vertical standard 10 suitably formed of a pair of separable upper and lower sections, an elongate overhead section 12 and a base section 14. The overhead section 12 of the frame assembly is supported on the upper end of the upper vertical portion 10 bymeans of a slotted clamping device 16 through which the section 12 is passed and secured in desired position by a suitable detent screw 18.

The overhead section 12, as so supported, is thus divided into a pair of moment arms of unequal length about the pivotal support 16. To hold the overhead section 12 in desired angular position relative to the vertical section 10, an adjustable tension stop means is provided. In the embodiment shown, the tension stop means suitably comprise a flexible cord 20 having one end secured as by a hook 22 to the free end of the overhead section 12 and its other end secured through an adjustable fastening 26 and a book 24 to the vertical standard 10. The

adjustable fastening 26 is provided to vary the effective length of the cord 20, and thereby vary the angular position of the overhead section 12 and elevation of the depending means 2 and 4. A preferred embodiment of adjustable fastener 26 is a conventional spring biased clothes line type tightener whereby the lower end of the 3 cord can be pulled through the tightener 26 to shorten the cord.

To hold the vertical section normal to the base section 14, a conventional foldable stop hinge 28 having its opposite ends connected, respectively, to the vertical section 10 and the base section 4 is provided.

To provide the necessary lateral support for the frame assembly sections 10, 12 and 14 erected as described above, the end of the base section 14 is provided with a terminal cross arm 30. If desired, and particularly for indoor use, there may also be included an elongate rollable mat 32 having one end thereof engaged by said cross arm 30. If desired, the mat 32 may include stroke guide markings indicating a tee location.

The overhead frame section 12 at one end thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 5, may suitably comprise a pair of channel members 36, 38 mounted back to back and bolted together to provide for additional strength and rgidity in the support area. The other end of the frame section 12 may suitably consist of an extension of channel 38 having a smaller reinforcing channel section 40 disposed therewithin and secured thereto as by bolts 42, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Preferably channel member 38 is sectioned as at 44 to permit ready disassembly and storage, said channel 40 being of suflicient length to bridge the joint.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, the tilt arm 6 is supportingly connected to the free end of the frame over head section as by its pivotal connection to the rigid vertically positioned depending arm 8. Thus, arm 8, which is shown as a channel member, is secured by a bolt 46 and nut 48 to a downwardly depending terminal flange portion 50 of the frame section 12, the bolt passing through aligned apertures in the flange 50 and arm 8. The pivotal mounting of the arm 6, which may also be a channel member, is readily effected by means of a bolt 52 passing through an aperture in the arm 6, through a bearing washer 54 interposed between the arm 6 and the support arm 8 and through an aligned aperture in the support arm 8. A spring 56 may be mounted on the bolt 52 intermediate the head thereof and the adjacent surface of the support arm 8 to provide a light frictional force resisting pivotal displacement of the tilt arm 6.

The tilt arm 6 is normally biased to horizontal position, i.e., a position normal to the depending support arm 8, by balanced spring means 58 diagonally connected to the tilt arm 6 on either side of the support arm 8 and to said support arm 8 as at 60. Any suitable return spring means may be used and rubber bands have proved to be particularly satisfactory.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 4, an electrical contact arm 66 is fixed to the tilt arm 6 adjacent the bolt 52 by welding or other suitable means. The electrical contact arm 66 projects upwardly normal to the tilt arm 6 and has at its upper end an inwardly directed flange portion 68. Fixed to the end of the over head frame section 12 adjacent the contact arm flange 68 is provided a flat electrical conductor member 69 having vertically directed laterally spaced electrical contacts 72 and 74 between which the flange 68 of the contact arm 66 projects.

In the arrangement as above described, a tilting of arm 6 either clockwise or counter clockwise will cause the contact arm 66 to be rotatably displaced to cause the flange portion 68 of the contact arm 66 to engage either the contact 72 or the contact 74 of the conductor member 69.

As best shown in FIGURE 7, the conductor member 69 is electrically insulated from the frame section 12 by interposition of a sheet of electrical insulating material 78 and utilization of suitable electrically non-conductive fastenings 80 and 82. As schematically shown in FIG- URE 7, an attention arresting warning system is connected intermediate the conducting strap 69 and the base adapted to be energized upon contact of the flange 68 with the switch contacts 72 or 74. A suitable and yet simple system, as schematically shown, may include a battery 84 connected in series with a buzzer 86 and disposed intermediate strap 69 and arm 12. The signal device could also be a light or a combination of sound and light and could be mounted anywhere on the frame. In any event, any means for producing a visual or audible signal responsive to a tilt of the arm 6 from its normal biased rest position in which the flange 68 of the electrical contact arm is centered between and spaced from each of the electrical contacts 72 and 74 to a position in which the flange 68 engages one of the electrical contacts 72 or 74 and completes an electric circuit through the light or sound producing device, may be employed.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the depending means 2 and 4 are fastened to the tilt arm 6 in such manner to provide for lateral adjustment of the members 2 and 4 as indicated by dotted line figures of the elements 2 and 4 and by the arrows 94 and 96. Any suitable means may be provided for such lateral adjustment. In a preferred form indicated in FIGURE 4a, the elements 2 and 4 are formed of a stiff wire bent into a general hair pin form and having one free end formed in a hook and turned at right angle to the plane defined by the looped wire. The tilt arm 6 is suitably formed of light weight channel stock and is provided with spaced apertures and recesses as shown to secure the free ends of the elements 2 and 4. More particularly the flanged portions 6a and 6b of arm 6 are formed with spaced aligned sets of apertures 98 and 100 to receive therethrough the straight end 4a of the element 4, for example, and a companion aperture 102 to accommodate the hook end 4b of the element 4. Thus, to attach the element 4 to the tilt arm 6, the end 4a of the element 4 is passed vertically up through the aligned apertures 98 and 100 after which the unit is rotated to align the hook 4b with aperture 102. The element 4 is then moved downwardly to pass the tip of the hooked end 4b through the aperture 102. Preferably the various major components of the subject unit are made so as to be conveniently assemblable and disassemblable and to be erected in a simple manner.

In use of the disclosed and described apparatus the golfer assumes his stance relative to the tee in accordance with the length club to be used and in accordance with his height, reach and physical requirements in such manner as to position his head between the depending elements 2 and 4. Vertical adjustment of elements 2 and 4, if required, may be provided by adjusting the length of cord 20. Adjustment of the position of the elements 2 and 4, toward or away from the frame mid-section may be accomplished by sliding the frame section 10 in the clamp support 16. The spacing of the elements 2 and 4 may be set in accordance with the dictates of the user to provide a large area of permissible head movement during initial training of the golfer and gradually reduced to effect greater sensitivity to head displacement as the golfer progressively becomes more expert in reducing his degree of head displacement during the golf swing.

In the described apparatus there is no contact with or coercive or restrictive force exerted directly or indirectly on any. portion of the golfers person and there is no obstruction or distractive influence that would tend to break the required concentration. As such, the user is as free in his swing as he would be in normal play.

With his head so positioned intermediate the spaced depending means, should the golfer move his head during the swing an amount suflicient to engage either of the depending elements 2 and 4, such engagement will displace the tilt arm 6, effecting contact between the electrical contact arm 66 and one or the other of the contacts 72 and 74 and producing an audible signal. H

The heretofore described unit may, if desired, be readily modified to limit the period during the swing in which displacement of the tilt arm will effect energization of the audible signal. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 8, such modification, for example, can be effected by inclusion of a normally closed switch member 110 in series with the battery and buzzer and of such character as to be opened by passage of the club head past the tee or tee location. In such a system, as will be apparent, the degree of head displacement subsequent to the passage of the club head past the tee will not result in the production of an audible signal. With such a modification, therefore, it will be apparent that head displacement, such as may occur during the follow-through portion of the swing will not effect the audible signal, although any selectable degree of undesired head displacement prior to the point of passage of the club head past the tee will produce such a signal.

While applicant has described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended in the appended claims to define and claim the invention as broadly as may be permitted by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a golf practice apparatus, a horizontally disposed carrier arm member, spaced means depending from said carrier arm member and defining therebetween a predetermined area of permissive lateral head displacement, ground supported overhead support means for su porting said carrier arm member and spaced depending means in position to accommodate between said spaced depending means in said predetermined area the head of a golfer when addressing a ball, said carrier arm member being supported for movement relative to said support means, and signal producing means connected to said carrier arm member to produce a signal Whenever said carrier arm member is moved by engagement of one of said depending means by the golfers head if he moves it beyond said area of permissive head displacement.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and in which said overhead support means includes means for vertical adjustment to adjust the level of said carrier arm member and depending means relative to the level of a golfers head above the ground.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and including means providing for selective lateral adjustment of said depending means along said carrier arm member to vary the spacing of said depending means and thereby selectively vary the area of permissive lateral head displacement.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and in which said overhead support means when in erected operational condition includes a rigid vertically positioned depending support arm, said carrier arm being pivotally connected at its mid-point to said support arm, resilient means biasing said carrier arm to its horizontal position, normal to said support arm, an electrical contact arm having one end fixed to said carrier arm, a switch means having adjacent spaced contacts, the other end of said contact arm being positioned between said spaced contacts when said carrier arm is in its horizontal position, said depending means being fixed to said carrier arm respectively at points spaced one at each side of said carrier arm pivot point such that lateral displacement of either depending means will tilt said carrier arm to cause said electrical contact arm to engage one of said spaced contacts, and signal producing means electrically connected to said contacts and said electrical contact arm to produce a signal when either of said depending means is laterally displaced.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and in which said overhead support means comprises a frame including a base section pivotally connected to a vertically adjustable mid-section and an overhead section detachably mounted on the upper end of said mid-section to form a U-shaped assembly when set in operative position, a cross arm connected to said base section at a point between the ends of said cross arm to provide lateral support for said frame when set in operable position, means connected between said frame mid-section and base section to hold said mid-section normal to said base in operative position of said frame, and stop means connected between said frame mid-section and said frame overhead section to maintain a substantially right angular relation therebetween in operative position of said frame.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and in which said stop means is adjustable to selectively vary the angular relationship of said frame mid-section and frame overhead section to selectively vary the vertical position of said depending means to accommodate the height of the golfer.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and in which said overhead frame section is pivoted to said frame mid-section at an intermediate portion of said overhead section to provide sections of unequal moment arms, the free end of the larger moment arm being adapted to support said spaced depending means, an elongated adjustable tension member, one end of said tension member being connected to the free end of the shorter of said moment arms, the other end of said tension member being connected to said frame mid-section to adjust the height of said spaced depending means by adjusting the length of said tension member.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and including a mat secured to said lateral support cross arm and extendable to an area below said spaced depending means when said apparatus is set up for operation and rollable to lie adjacent said lateral support cross arm for storage.

9. In a golf practice apparatus, a ground supported stationary overhead support means, a horizontally positioned tilt arm pivotally supported on said overhead support means, spaced depending means fixed to said tilt arm to move therewith and defining therebetween a limited predetermined area of permissive head movement for a golfer, a signal producing means, and normally open electrical contact means connected between said tilt arm and support means to energize said signal means when said tilt arm is moved by movement of the golfers head beyond said predetermined area and into engagement with one of said depending means.

10. In a golf practice apparatus a ground supported stationary overhead support means, a horizontally positioned tilt arm pivotally supported on said overhead support means, spaced depending means fixed to said tilt means to move therewith and defining therebetween a limited predetermined area of permissive head movement for a golfer, a signal producing means, normally open electrical contact means connected between said tilt arm and support means to energize said signal producing means when said tilt arm is moved by movement of the golfers head beyond said predetermined area and into engagement with one of said depending means, and auxiliary normally closed switch means associated with said signal producing means and adapted to be opened by passage of a club head past the point of intended impact with a ball to prevent the energization of said signal producing means during the follow-through portion of the swing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649.900 5/1900 Brennan 248124 X 2,445,839 7/1948 Newman et a1. 273183 3,079,152 2/1963 Cushing 273l83 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

G. I, MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CARRIER ARM MEMBER, SPACED MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID CARRIED ARM MEMBER AND DEFINING THEREBETWEEN A PREDETERMINED AREA OF PERMISSIVE LATERAL HEAD DISPLACEMENT, GROUND SUPPORTED OVERHEAD SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID CARRIER ARM MEMBER AND SPACED DEPENDING MEANS IN POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE BETWEEN SAID SPACED DEPENDING MEANS IN SAID PREDETERMINED AREA THE HEAD OF A GOLFER WHEN ADDRESSING A BALL, SAID CARRIER ARM MEMBER BEING SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND SIGNAL PRODUCING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIED ARM MEMBER TO PRODUCE A SIGNAL WHENEVER SAID CARRIER ARM MEMBER IS MOVED BY ENGAGEMENT OF ONE OF SAID DEPENDING MEANS BY THE GOLFER''S HEAD IF HE MOVES IT BEYOND SAID AREA OF PERMISSIVE HEAD DISPLACEMENT. 